Tobacco feed for scrap bunch cigar machines



TOBACCO FEED FOR SCRAP BUNCH CIGAR MACHINES Filed sept. 4, 1957 INVENTOR b \v1/, l M .Z 3 I 1%@ a ac 96 3 3 s. w. ...2 l D 1 1 y@ una d c 4 d m.\ l 23a I 3 3 a3 h 8 l 1.11 .wl .b 17, H N" 56A MH 76 I l .1M 8 1 Ill. .1| l "I l l. w11!! 1 w 2v n MANU. 5. 7 a 7. l, l] 1. 1. 1 85 M Ilmwal.. a nu 7 |18 1111.. J l 6 a 1 1 4 ||Il "u" l H 4 y D 2v 9 4% M. d 1 u www 1C fw z3 .se

Patented Oct. 21,1941

2,259,616. v v @Bacco FOR SCRAIi BJJNGH CIGAR.

MACHINES.

Sigurd Clausen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assgnor t0 International. Cigar vMachinery Company, a. corporaJ` tion of N eWJersey.

Aprhetimi September 4, 193.7, SeriaLNQ'. 16241.61. 18. Claims. (C1. 1:31721.)

This invention. relates to cigar. machines and more particularly. toirnproyements `in devices. for

feeding tobacco. to, the.` bunch. forrriing'` mechaf nism thereof.

Heretofore it has; been.v the custom to make.

cigarsv from` either long or. short filler tobacco.

It has now. been 151oposed`to4v make rnecliiani;ally.`

Naturally the. feeding of properquantities, ofthis type.y of tobacco to. cigar-forming Ina-- chinery presentsI considerable` of a problem" due to. the fact that'it tends. to` clingy together in a massv and must be separated in'order to feed it tolthe formingv mechanism. It, is, therefore, an

object of" this inventionv to provide av machine capable of effectively feeding shredded or other-1. wise prepared` tobacco to a bunch machineifor formation into elongated. smoking. articles.

It is a further object of'theinvention to, pro,- vide rnearls:` for feeding. shredded tobacco vand directing it into, a receiving. chamber, together- With means for` control-ling the operation of theA nevel hir. devices. for Controlling the whew@- feed.,

The. invention. also consists. 0fthe prei/$191.1 0f. novel latfi devioes for controlling the tobacco feed, and means fjorresetting. the latch.

,hanis y Y tobacco. feeding mechanism which advances to.- bacco from the source of supply.

Trie invention furtl'ierA includes, novel latch aadhehel Obietff the iai/.entice t0.

d. Qf; tchach@ @o the bunch forming by providing a dual control for'the device. against tobacco feeding. movement and) meahfsiorjtrinpns and' resetting the latch.-

The invention alsorconsistsin the provision of a., measuring. chamber. and. a.. Charge. forming unit wherein tobacco. adyhhced from the` chamber 'is forrrred1 into,I changs;s of suitable size, means for feeding., shredded or other small cut. tobacco to Said Chamber. and. Control devicesV for limiting the iiow of tobacco thereto,

rIfhe invention also includes means for' forming suitable clfiarges.V from tobacco fedtoia measf uring crzrhanibery havingI control devices associated therewith' mr. C Qhtrolhne the movement. 0i t0: bacco to the chamber.

The. invention. also contemplates the provisiQh.

0f, lath mechanism. for initiating. and. preventing the .morelhsht Qf. shredded 0r Similar Small. cui tobacco to` a. bunch fprmihg.. machin@ wherein, means are pmi/...ideal fer. measuring and Cutting bunch. @harass @he wrapping said. charges into. huhphes.-

With these and other objects hoi. medically" mentihed. ihgriew., the invention Consists... 0f. Cer: tatie @mamelons and. comhihahohfwhch will.. be.. cleserihe hereafter amt then Sei forth ih the ahpemiedclahh.

the aompanvlae drawing which formsi a, partof thisspecifloationand in Wl'iiohV like characters... Qf, reference. indicate the. Same 0r like parte.:

Eig, l is. a side elevation of arnachine .constructed in accordanoe.withv Iny invention;

Eig. 2 i.S a perspective View showing the chute which. guides the. tobacco. from thehoppe 120 the charge measuring. Chamber.;

Eig, 3, isA an enlarged sectional View of .the feed conhQl, Ihehanism with certain paris. broken. may;

i 'ign` i` is. a longitudinal sectional Viewl ony line ff-lof. Fia 3; f 4

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an adjustable carri used. en.. mi.' machine. i

Referring to, the drawing, ISA. indicates' the frame of a cigar machine supporting a table l l: to which a rolling table l2 is operatively connected. A channelV frame member I3 'and another member Hlf securely hold a tobaccoV feed mechanism, indicated. glehelally ai l5 and ld, in. Place above the. cigar irrathne.. A hopper 6. is .Supported bythe frame. l1 above the feed mechanism, and

pered chute I8 (Fig. 2) to direct the shredded tobacco into a measuring chamber 32 of the type shown in Reissue Patent No. 20,334, granted April 20, 1937, to F. C. Gladeck et al. In the process of feeding from the supply contained in the hopper I6, the shreds or pieces of tobacco are separated from the mass and fed to chute I8 in a shower through the medium of a carding belt I9 trained over pulleys 28 and 2|, mounted on shafts 22 and 23, respectively. The shaft 23 is driven by chain 24 which derives its motion from sprocket 25 fixed to cam shaft 26 journaled in bearings (not shown) in the cigar machine frame I 0.

A feed chute 21 is pivotally secured to the frame member I1 at 28 and is automatically operated through a pin and slot connection at 29 to a link 38 in order to permit the tobacco to enter between the walls 3| of the measuring chamber 32, provided with a door 32a which is automatically opened at the proper time to allow n a charge of tobacco advanced from the hopper to befed into themeasuring chamber.

The door 32a is mounted upon a shaft 35a to which is xed lever 35 connected at 34 to a link 33, which link is also connected to a cam lever-36 at 36a. Lever 36 has mounted thereon a cam follower 31 which engages with a cam 38 mounted on shaft 26 as viewed in Fig. 1.

It will be observed, therefore, that cam 38 causes link 33 to operate door 32a through rotationof vice, which is constructed according to the disclosure in the Gladeck et al. patent above referred to, is provided with a compressor plunger 32h, which, operating in the compression chamber as described in said patent, is mounted on a rod 32e slidably mounted in a block 32d slidable on guides 32g. A spring placed around rod 32e bears against the plunger B2b, and also against the spring'tension block 32e adjustably attached to rod 32j Vcarried by block 32d. Attached to the free end of rod 32c is a nger 32h in which is adjustably mounted a threaded adjusting member 327' which is positioned to engage finger 49|) which controls the feeding of the tobacco. Tobacco is fed from the chamber 32 by plunger 32h into a charge forming device C which in the illustrated embodiment is of the type shown in the Gladeck et al. patent, and is held therein by gate I2b. At the proper period in the machine cycle, knife |2a cuts off a charge of tobacco. The gate I2b is then swung downward, as shown in-dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the charge is ejected by the plunger of the forming device onto the 40 from a motor (not shown) runs continuouslyv to drive pulley 4I fixed to a shaft 42-by a belt 43, and through pulleys 44, 45 and 45, and the belts 41 and 48, similar to the driving mechanism disclosed inPatent 1,563,334, above mentioned, to actuate a picker roller 50 which picks the tobacco from belt I9 and directs it downwardly into chute I8. A bevel gear 49 on the shaft 42 meshes with a bevel gear 49a xed to a shaft 44a which carries the pulley 44 and drives the pulley 45. A clutch 5I of conventional design can be provided for starting and stopping the machine.

As stated previously, the belt I9 advances tobacco from the hopper into chute I8. In order to feed tobacco at the appropriate time, means are provided for imparting feeding movement to the belt when tobacco is needed in the compression chamber and for preventing its movement at all other times. Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 it will be observed that clutch mechanism 52 controls the movement of the belt I9.

As described above, a chute 21 is pivotally mounted at 28 on the upright frame of the machine, and has connected thereto an adjustable link 38 pivotally secured to a block 38a fastened to shaft 63. A spring 21a secured to chute 21 and frame I4 normally holds the chute 21 against the chute I8 as shown in Fig. 1. When shaft B3 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction the chute 21 will discharge its contents into chamber v,32. Clamped upon the shaft 63 is a lever 62 to `3|) which are pivotally secured at 81 and 84, respectively, two links 85 and |82. Link 86 is also connected to a cam lever 88 which is pivoted at 89 to the machine frame and is provided with a cam .follower 90 engaging a cam 38h on shaft 25. A spring 88a secured to the lever 88 and to the frame (notshcwn) holds the cam follower 90 against cam 38h.

In order to vary the feeding period of belt I9, cam 381), which controls the rocking movement Li'oof lever 9| and hence pawl 54, is formed in two relatively movable parts 38a and 38C, one loosely and the other xedly mounted on shift 26. These parts are adjustably held together by means of screws 92 passed through slots 92a 4gformed in one of the cams, and secured in the other as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Counterclockwise movement of lever 62 effects a discharge of chute 21 into chamber 32, as before mentioned.

Mounted upon a shaft B9 is a pawl 54 positioned to co-act with the teeth of a ratchet |98 forming a part of clutch 52 described hereinafter. Also fixed to shaft is a lever 5| which extends y downward and ccacts with a rounded or cam 55 portion 54a of a lever |54 loosely mounted on shaft 63. The prime function of lever 6| is to prevent reengagement of the clutch parts and prevent movement of the feeding belt I9 until the feed of additional tobacco from the hopper I6 is necessary for the formation of proper cigars. Lever 6I is held in this position by means of cam portion 64a of lever B4 (see Fig. l) Also secured to shaft 68 is a lever 9| to which is pivoted at 94 the other end of link |92 previously 55 mentioned. This end of the link is provided with a slot 95 in order to give the necessary lost motion connection required for the feed control mechanism. A spring 54a connected to one en d of lever 9| at 54o, and also to the hopper at 54e 70 normally tends to hold pawl 54 against ratchet I 88. The movement of lever 62, through the described connections plays an important part in feeding of tobacco, inasmuch as the clockwise movement thereof effected by slotted link |82 engaging with pin 94 on lever 9| detaches the pawl from `the iteeth .of ratchet T00 against the .tension of-spring 54ato .reengage the clutch and reins'titute the .movement of :belt 19. In 'order Ito insure the .stoppage of 'the .feed conveyor- 'the cam surface v614er.cooperating with .arm El Yhas been provided, fas :explained above.

'The rotation of .shaft 23 to foperate :feed belt t9 is effected by .means of sprocket'chain 24 and-clutch `mechanism 52.' In Figs. 3 and 4 this mechanism lis :shown 'in detail and consists t can be seen, therefore, vthat the rotation ofV shaft 23 `ceases whenever pawl' 54 bears against the teeth of ratchet Hill. This engagement causes v'the projections of ratchet m0 to force pins@ into 'their 'recesses' in y*driven member 16, .and move rollers orV ballsY 'Il from contact with the flange of driving member 56. This disengagement of 'clutch parts is 4accomplished every time arm 6l bears against cam portion Marci lever `E4, vand'also at least once each cycle when 'the lower'end o'f slot '95 of link .m2 lifts lever '91 -throughpin 94, and swings thepawl 54 into coaction with a vtoo'th'of lthe ratchet. A handwheel '3 is fixed to shaft 23 `to enable the machine 'to .be 'turned over manually. 1

'A latch mechanism is provided 'for controlling the movement .of cam surface 64a. 4In the illustrated embodiment the rocks'haft Gwhich' supports finger 43h has secured theretoi a lever '51 having a. 'free lend 'provided with a nose'l. 'At its other end the lever is connected at 68 vto an adjustable link 615, which link .in turnis connected at 66 to an end of lever 64. Nose T0 of lever 61 is adapted to bear `againstlever 'H whenever the tobacco feed is incapacitated, and whenever 'more 'tobacco is to be fed the nose4 is moved l.along the lever arm'll a into engagement With .la 'reduced ornotchedportion.r A link 13 is pivotally connected to an end' of lever 1I which is mounted on shaft '12.A The other end of this link 'is connected at 81a to a lever swingable on a pin 82 .on the .sideframe of themachine and provide'd with a cam .follower 85 which 'trains on a cam 83 and through that medium lifts Athe lever 81` and hence .swings the lever FH once during .each vrevolution of cam 83. In this manner arm Ha of lever 'H -is' swung at least once each cycle of the machine away from nose 16. A pin 1lb is located inthe 'path of movement of nose 1.0 and limits its'lfre'e upward movement under the urging of a spring 14 secured to lever G'Iat 68, and to the frame at '15. A spring 13a secured to lever 'll tends to hold lever arm 'Ha in contact with nose 1:0;

` The feed `mechanism .15a is operated by means of a sprocket 99 fixed to shaft 123 and provided with a chain engaging with a sprocket 99h on shaft 105. A pulley Illia cooperates with pulley la@ in supporting carded belt it] in operative position. 'Chain 99a trained over sprockets SSI) and .mi is responsible for the drive of belt 15a, power being supplied froml shaft 23 which mounts sprocket IIJ-I.

In the operation of the machine, tobacco'is nient with notch v'll/cl. of lever 1l.

fed periodically `from hopper 16 by means of carded belt 1w zinto. chute l-:8 and. is subsequently discharged iin-to the. .compression chamber 32. As. described' herein-above, shaft 26 which is continuously rotating, carries the adjustable cam 38h made `up fof two 'relatively .movable parts. When the lever '83k is raised, due -to engagement of follower 9U with the high :portion of cam 3819, pawl .54..ismove'd into engagement with the teeth ofratchet l the rotation of shaft 23, and the :accompanying movement of kfeeding fbelt t9 ceases. Whenzthe .vfollower imV rides off the high portion ofthe scam, lever 9| iis `moved in the clockwise 4'.-irc-:cti'on and `fpaiwl .54 is pulled from its engagement `with the .ratchet |90 and the normali drive `of shaft. 23` .is reinsti'tuted. Normaily, thepositi'o'ns of the cam members 38a and .rac .are :so adjusted :that 'somewhat more than an amountnecessary for one cigar bunch will be fed to the feed chute t8.. It can be seen therefore that under .these vconditions there will be a .gradual accumulation of tobacco in the compression chamber so that .at certain cycles of vthe. machine it will be unnecessary to feed additional tobacco to the feed chute I8. ln order to prevent this feed when no tobacco is needed in the compression chamber, means have been provided for accomplishing this purpose. This control Aassumes the form of the above described camssurface 64a which holds the arm 6l in the position `shown in Fig. 1, with pawl 54 bearing against the ratchet regardless of the position. vof lever 9L When 'additional'A tobacco is to be fed andv before th'e normal disabling mechanism yoperated by cam 38h can become effective, itis. necessary to move cam surface 64a from engagement lwith arm '6I. This is yaccomplished by means of adjusting .screw 32:1' carried by the plunger control mechanism which engages linger 49h mounted on' shaft 'B9' and rocks lever 61 clockwise away .from its engage- This movement disen'gages :arm Si 'from cam .surface 64a and makes it possible for vcani 38h to 'perform its prescribed functions, above mentioned. Upon return "of the plunger 32h to the position shown in Fig. 1., the :spring'll moves nose T0 up into engagement with aV pin Hb and moves the cam surface 64a up into position for re-engag'ement with arm el. The above 'described movement of nose i0 into engagement with pin Hb takes place :as a result of the counterclockwise movement of lever arm lla, which releases the connection between the nose 'Hl and the notched portion-of the lever arm lia. In 'the rotation 'of cam shaft 26, cam 83 engages with cam follower 85 once foreach revolution 'of shaft 8S and accomplishes the desired 'counterclockwise movement of lever *H against the tension of spring i3. The latch mechanism is then set for feedingV additional tobacco by reason of the fact that on the forward )movement of plunger 32h, screw 327 willengage trip finger 4817, :cause shaft 69 to rock, and nose 'lil'wili move downwardly along the notched varm portion ibof lever H whereupon carn 'surface '64a moves away from the tail of lever '61 and nose 10, either engages with the notch on lever arm "lla -or travels downwardly along the notched portion depending upon the adjustment of link 55. `Lever Blf is then free to move relative to l'cam surface '64a and link 86 can pull pawl 54 out of engagement with ratchet 100 so that clutch 52 is thrown into operationA and belt 'i9 conveys tobacco from the hopper into receptacle I8.

' The mechanism above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention is not therefore to be restricted to theprecise details of the structure shown and described. What is claimed is:

1.'In a vcigar machine, Athe combination with a traveling surface feeding shredded tobacco on its upper portion from a source of` supply and a picker roll for removing tobacco fromsaid surface, of a chute located to receive said tobacco, mechanism for stopping the movement of said surface once each cycle of the machine after an amount of tobacco in excess of a complete charge has been fed, and means acting independently of .said mechanism for preventing resumption of movement of said surface during a succeeding cycle of said machine.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with an endless traveling carded surface feeding tobacco from'a source of supply and a picker roll for removing tobacco from said surface, of a chute located to vreceivesaid tobacco, mechanism for stopping the movement of said surface once each cycle of theY machine after an amount of tobacco in` exc-ess of a complete bunch charge has been fed, and means acting independently of said mechanism for' preventing resumption of movement `of said surfacer during a succeeding cycle of said machine.V

` 3..In amechanism for feeding tobacco, the combination with a compression chamber, of means for feeding charges of tobacco each in excess' of a bunch Ych'arge'theretd'said means including ahopper, a carded belt feeding tobacco from said hopper to said chamber, a picker roller coacting with said belt, a reciprocating member in said chamber, control means on said member, and a device cooperating with said control means when the tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined minimum for operating said belt to feed tobacco from said hopper.

`4. In a cigar machine, the combination-With a tobacco receiving chamber, of means for feeding charges of shredded tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge to said chamber, said means comprising an endless carded feeding surface, means for moving said surface, a device for locking said surface against movement, means controlled by the quantity of tobacco in said chamber for reinstating'the feeding movement of said carded surface, and means for varying the period of movement of said surface, including a cam, and means for adjusting the active driving face of said cam.

5. In a'tobacco article forming machine having a tobacco supply hopper, and a bunch formingV mechanism, a chute positioned -to receive tobacco delivered from said hopper, a movable member closing said chute to retain tobacco delivered therein, an endless traveling surface for feeding charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from said hopper to said chute, a receiving chamber forming a part of said mechanism located below said chute and adapted to hold a plurality of bunch charges, a device for moving said member to open said chute, and thereby discharge the tobacco in said chute into said chamber, said device also being provided with means for stopping the feeding movement of said surface.

6. In a tobacco article forming machine having a tobacco supply hopper, and an endless belt for feeding shredded tobacco from said hopper,

a chute, a receiving chamber, a picker roller directing said tobacco from lsaid -belt into said chute and towards said chamber, means for intermittently moving said belt to feed charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from said hopper, means for preventing feeding movement of tobacco to said chamber when the tobacco therein is above a predetermined minimum quantity, and a trip device for reinstituting tobaccov feed when the tobacco insaid chamber falls: below said quantity, and means including said trip device controlled by the quantity of tobacco in said chamber for reinstating the movement of, said surface.

7. In a tobacco handling ,machine provided with means for intermittently feeding charges of shredded tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from a source of supply including an endless carded tobacco feeding belt, a picker roller c-o-operating with said belt, a chute, and a pivoted plate closing said chute to retain charges of tobacco fed thereto, a chamber, means for periodically swinging said plate to discharge said charges into said chamber, and to lock said feeding means against further feeding, a compressing plunger in said chamber, and control meansv associated with said plunger for reinstating the feed of tobacco to said chute.

' 8. In a cigar machine, the combination with a tobacco receiving chamber and an intermittently moving conveyor for feeding shredded tobacco from a source of supply toV said receiving chamber, of a chute directing said tobacco to said chamber, a door closing said chamber, means for opening said door prior to the discharge of tobacco from said chute into said chamber, control means for instituting the feeding motion of said conveyor, said control means including a trip fingenja drive locking arm, a latch comprising a lever having a nose, an arm member provided with a notch engaging said nose, a cam coacting with said arm and arranged to be swung into conveyor drive locking position, and' means for rocking said finger and tripping said nose and notch connection to swing said cam fromsaid position out of locking engagement with said arm.

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently driven conveyor for feeding shedd'ed tobacco, of a receiving chamber ar- 1 ranged to receive tobacco fed from said conveyor,

a clutch for driving said conveyor, a ratchet forming a part of said clutch, a pawl co-operating with said ratchet to interrupt the drive of said conveyor, a locking device'for holding said pawl in engagement with said ratchet when the drive is interrupted, control means associated with said device for reinstating the feeding movement of said conveyor, and means controlled by the quantity of tobacco in said chamber for actuating said control means.

10. In a cigar machine having a device for conveying tobacco from Aa source of supply to a bunch forming machine, mechanism for controlling the movements of said device, comprising, a clutch driving said vconveyor device, an arm movable to throw out and disconnect said clutch and thereby stop the movement of said device, a member for locking said arm in its clutch disengaging position, a movable trip finger, a latch coacting with said finger, a lever provided at one end with a cam, a link connecting said latch and said lever, means normally holding said cam and member in locking position, means operable when the tobacco in said machine falls below a-predetermined minimum for moving said nger to trip said latch and move said cam from contact with said member, thereby releasing said arm, and means for withdrawing said arm from said clutch to reinstate feeding movement of said device.

1l. In a mechanism for forming tobacco articles having a hopper containing a supply of tobacco, a compression chamber and a feed chute for delivering tobacco towards said chamber, means for feeding charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from said hopper to said chute, said means including a carded belt feeding tobacco from said hopper to said chute, and a picker roller coacting with said belt, a reciprocating compressing member in said chamber, control means on said member, and a device cooperating with said control means when the tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined level for operating said belt to feed tobacco from said hopper.

12. In a cigar machine having means for feeding tobacco from a source of supply to a bunch forming unit, including an endless traveling conveying surface, and a chute arranged to receive tobacco discharged from said surface, a compression chamber located to receive charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from said chute, and mechanism for periodically moving said surface, comprising means for interrupting said movement, and locking means for preventing movement of said endless conveying surface and feeding of additional tobacco to said chute, said locking means including, a ratchet forming a part of said mechanism, a pawl, and

means for holding said paWl and ratchet in engagement and said surface immovable until the quantity of tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined minimum.

13. In a cigar machine having a bunch forming member, a substantially horizontal tobacco receiving chamber arranged to hold a plurality of charges associated therewith, a feed chute delivering tobacco towards said chamber, an endless carded conveyor for feeding tobacco to said chute, and mechanism for controlling the movement of said conveyor, said mechanism comprising a clutch, a clutch release and locking device, means for moving said locking device into cooperation with said clutch to stop said conveyor whenever the tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined maximum, means for holding said device in clutch releasing position, a latch, a trip finger, means for moving said finger to trip said latch, and connections between said latch and device for reinstating the operative drive of said clutch. 1

14. In a cigar machine having a bunch forming unit, a substantially horizontal tobacco receiving chamber adapted to contain a plurality of charges associated therewith, a feed chute for delivering tobacco towards said chamber, `an endless carded conveyor for feeding tobacco to said chute, and mechanism for controlling the movement of said conveyor, said mechanism comprising a clutch, a clutch. release, and a locking device, means for moving said device into cooperation with said clutch to stop said conveyor Whenever the tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined maximum, means for holding said device in clutch releasing position, a latch, a trip finger, means for moving said finger to trip said latch, connections between said latch and device for reinstating the operative drive of said clutch, and means for resetting said latch.

15. In a tobacco article forming machine having a shredded tobacco supply hopper, a bunch forming mechanism, a chute positioned to receive tobacco delivered from said hopper, a member closing said chute to retain tobacco delivered therein, and an endless traveling surface for feeding charges of tobacco each iri excess of a bunch charge from said hopper to said chute, a receiving chamber forming a part of.said mechanism located below said chute and adapted to hold a plurality of bunch charges, means for moving said member to open said chute and thereby discharge the tobacco in said chute into said chamber, and means for separating bunch charges from the tobacco in said chamber.

16. In a cigar machine having a traveling shredded tobacco feeding surface, a chute, and a compression chamber adapted to receive tobacco from said chuteand a picker roller located adjacent the discharge end of said surface for separating and directing charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge from said surface into said chute and towards said chamber. and means for controlling the feeding movement of said surface including a device for interrupting said feeding surface travel Whenever said chamber contains a predetermined maximum quantity of tobacco.

17. In a tobacco article forming machine having a tobacco supply hopper, a bunch forming mechanism, and a chute positioned to receive tobacco delivered from said hopper, a movable member closing said chute to retain tobacco delivered therein, an endless traveling surface for feeding tobacco in excess of a bunch charge in a substantially continuous stream from said hopper to said chute, a receiving chamber forming a part of said mechanism and holding a plurality of bunch charges of tobacco located below said chute, a device for moving said member to open said chute and thereby discharge the tobacco in said chute into said chamber, and means for stopping the feeding movement of said surface when the quantity of tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined maximum.

18. In a cigar machine provided with an intermittently traveling shredded tobacco feeding surface, a chute, a charge receiving chamber arranged to hold a plurality of bunch charges of tobacco, a picker roller cooperating with said surface to feed charges of tobacco each in excess of a bunch charge into said chute and from said surface towards said chamber, means for separating individual bunch charges from the tobacco in said chamber, and means associated with said chamber for moving said surface to feed tobacco whenever the tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined minimum.

SIGURD CLAUSEN. 

